Business & Employment
Transportation Systems

IT System: Transportation: Smart Roads and Smart Cars



Matthew Chater

Definition:

A Smart road is simply a road which is used to test new and upcoming advancements in paving and transportation technology. Perhaps, the most famous of these roads is the "
The Virginia Smart Road".

Where are they used?

The Virginia Smart Road, is currently a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) stretch of road with turn-around loops at either end. They hope to extend the road to a further 5.7 miles (9.2 km).


How is it used and monitored?

used to test the new models of pavement and transportation in the United States.

Issues and Problems:

In order for this to be tested there are a few precautions that have to be put in place:


  • Researchers can observe highway traffic and driver performance, both directly and indirectly using surveillance cameras.
  • Engineers also can control the lighting and the weather on the Smart Road.
  • Dispatchers monitor the Smart Road from a computer-equipped control center that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Virginia Smart Road.
The Virginia Smart Road.
The Virginia Smart Road





SMART CARS:



The definition of a Smart Car is vague as it is more of a concept rather than a pre-concived idea. The Smart Car definition that I chose to base this page on was the Environmentally aware SMART CAR.

Smart cars are cars which help the environment. an example of which IS the SMART CAR which is found commonly throughout the USA.

These cars are important as they make the user more environmentally aware and do not have a large carbon footprint. They are new and innovative. They are innovative and are were developed as a solution in order to help prevent the carbon footprint created by cars on the road.

They are simple, effective and very affordable. Used by many Americans, they can powered up using a cord that connects to a powerpoint in your garage, and can be easily charged up within hours.



Smart Car Battery and Charge diagram
Smart Car Battery and Charge diagram



As taken from the website:


"Discover a car that has been perfectly designed for your everyday life. A car that offers maximum comfort, agility, safety, ecology and driving fun. A pioneering vehicle concept that is one of the best with its low CO2 emission figures. "



For more information please visit.

Smart Car Website


WORKS CITED:

"The Smart Road." Roads to the Future. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Smart_Road.html.
"VTTI - Virginia Smart Road." Welcome to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. http://www.vtti.vt.edu/virginiasmartroad.html.